Mayor Sam Liccardo’s chief spokeswoman is out

After less than three months on the job, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo‘s chief spokeswoman is out.

Sources inside City Hall said Michelle Young, who joined Liccardo’s staff in May, no longer works for the mayor’s office. Young was on the job until late Friday, ushering press interviews for the mayor. But by Monday morning, she was gone.

It’s unclear if the decision to part ways with Liccardo was mutual.

Though she seemed to have a passion for politics and her boss, Young’s background in public relations was mainly in college athletics.

Young, 49, was born in Illinois and moved to California seven years ago to accept a job as the assistant athletic director for Santa Clara University. Prior to that, she worked at the University of South Carolina for 15 years. She holds a degree in public relations and a master’s in sports administration.

Young could not be reached for comment Monday. Her voicemail instructed callers to contact Ragan Henninger in the mayor’s office for City Hall business.

A press release sent from the mayor’s office on Monday listed Henninger as the policy director and interim PIO.

Staff members working on City Hall’s top floor expressed surprise over Young’s sudden departure, but Liccardo declined comment late Monday. “I’m sorry, but I can’t discuss personnel matters,” he said in a text message, also declining to discuss plans to fill the public position within his office.